Official book collectors thread

BMW should be a bit more active with its heritage. I was once told they did not have the budget, if you can comprehend that. "But, Hans Stuck!", I said, thinking amazing driving and 1970s sideburns. "Yes but he is paid by Porsche now..." was the reply. We have a UK TV ad running now with a glimpse of the cars in 1973.

The heritage stuff via quailty books has not done Porsche and Ferrari much harm. The CSL was raced to showcase BMW's cars more against the the 2.7 RS than the Capris. Same sort of price new.

 

14 pages of clothing!! Who the hell buys that hideous tat and what has it got to do with Ferrari? Have you ever seen anyone walk down the street dressed in what looks like a bit of old towel? And if you have did you burst out laughing? I wonder if the only reason they've hired Lewis Hamilton is because he's the only driver who would agree to model that garbage?

 

Quiet right, but often books published by manufacturers are glorified sales brochures.

 

100% but if they had someone who could control them and expalin how it was done it could work. A successful project needs the chassis info, race records, archive photos of flithy mechanics at 4am at Le Mans, not a photo of Steffi Graff (say) driving one, or arty modern pages on 'styling', which is their default.

 

I’m just now getting to the book. I usually scan through a new book looking for points of interest, check to see the thoroughness of the indices, references, footnotes, bibliography, etc. I’m a mere dilettante on the history of Ferrari which is a precarious place to be…neither scholar not poseur. It’s precarious because when I spot an error of fact in a book that’s supposed to be authoritative then it makes me wonder how accurate the things are that I “learn.”

For instance, in the “A Partial List Of Chinetti And NART Personnel” (a nice thing) section by Harry Hurst, Bob Cressman is described on page 397 as “the first dealer authorized to sell Ferraris in Florida at Cressman Foreign Cars.” This is not accurate. Bob was the service manager at Pleasure Cars, the authorized dealership owned by Ft. Lauderdale entrepreneur Robert Publicker. That is confirmed in the factory dealer directory. According to someone who worked there at the time, Publicker sold the business to a man I believe to have been his attorney whose name I’ve forgotten, who owned it only for a short time and sold it on to Cressman. Yes, I know it’s a very, very small point and not even directly related to the main subject of the book, but it changes one’s perception of the book, if only just a bit. There are a few other entries in this section that could be amplified a little, but it was a nice touch that some of these lesser known people were recognized.

On page 358 there’s a photograph of an RHD 308 GT4 2+2. It has a scudetto shield on the right front fender. Partial caption: “The company had an uneven approach to its marketing. [True but perhaps understated.] While they had a prancing horse on the side….” This implies that those shields were a factory installation. I have not seen them ever described as factory installed on this model, or in any options list for it.

I don’t want this to be seen as criticism. Criticism was my post about the shipping container for my first copy. There are errors and omissions in almost every biography or history. I think pointing out errors is a just a matter of correcting the record, not criticism. There was a time when publishers would regularly do this themselves by slipping an “errata” sheet into new books before they were delivered and providing copies of it upon request. Publications like The Wall Street Journal publish corrections almost daily. That seems to be extinct in book publishing today, so I think providing that information in a forum like this is a good thing.

I really want to like this book and have high hopes for it. I have enormous respect and appreciation for all those who persevered through all the struggles and overcame so many obstacles to get it published.

 

+1

And yes, Lewis is the only one that would be stupid enough to wear those Euro trash rags in public.

 

I've thought that for years now.

RIP the Ferrari yearbook, replaced now by a glossy, glorified coffee table magazine to put in clients waiting rooms (or the lounge room in someone's home) just so others know they own a Ferrari.

 

ABAB (not ABBA) says the books are in transit.

 

Jack your criticisms are spot-on. It is a decent effort but it could have been--and should have been--much better. Doug will do a proper job.

 

I have a friend (not a member here), who’s interested in buying a damaged copy of Ferrari in America. I already gave mine away. If interested just send a pm. Thanks.

 

Bloody hell....how many damaged copies are there of this book floating around??!!

 

I have no idea but I thought this would be the most logical place to mention it.

 

More of a reference to the seemingly poor packaging then to your enquiry.

 

Right. Beyond the two or three mentioned here I only know of my own.

 

Hello Jonathan - it's time you updated your wardrobe - we've got some stylish hats in stock now here

 

Anyone know about books on the XX program, I know about the FXX inside out book, but any on FXXK or 599XX always fascinated me When seeing them at Goodwood

 

Try the "Corse Clienti" volumes of the annual "Ferrari Racing Activities".

 

My copy arrived today, and I can just say: wow! Best Ferrari yearbook in years!

Nice composition of topics and beautiful photography. And the new format serves the many gorgeous images very well. Quality of paper and print is excellent.

But yes: To enjoy it you have to ignore the - in my opinion - outrageously ugly fashion, which is presented on quite a few pages.

 

Disagree.
There is no "new format". The 2024 YB is exactly the same format as the YB 2023 or the YB 2022.
And besides the 250 GTO 3589 GT story and some pix of the 288 Tour there is virtually nothing about any other classic Ferraris. The marketing dept is not interested at all in older cars, classic Ferraris. The company is only about 77 years old.......
Selling the new cars and fashion is the one and only goal.

Marcel Massini

 

I am sorry to disagree, but they are not (!) the same format! 2024 is quare 29x29 cm, whereas 2022 and 2023 have been 24 x 29 cm. Please check the facts before posting anything.

 

Germans are always right.
But the only thing important to me is that the bloody book actually fits into the shelf and is not 5 or 10 cms higher. No matter if square or triangular or pentagonal or whatever.
Thanks for the correction.

Marcel Massini

 

Bye, bye, guys - there will be one German less here in this community.

Discussions and chats should be conducted with decency and honesty. I know that is much to ask for an online community. But when repeated insults even get applauded, then it's the wrong place for me.

 

Perhaps this is a language barrier? As an American, I wouldn't necessarily consider a discussion on "format" to be about the basic dimensions or size of something; rather, it's about the included content of the article. Don't run away because of a simple jab, especially when your comment "Please check the facts before posting anything," could also be considered a bit negative in tone.

 

I think the word "format" was misinterpreted Sven just like when I refer to sales brochures and others refer to them as books.

STAY ON.... not worth getting worked up about.